Ore-concentrator.



J. P. ISBELL.

ORE CONGENTRATOE.

Arrmomlon IILED' JUNE 18, 1909.

Patented July 12,1910.

4 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

INGTON. n. c.

J. P. ISBELL.

ORB GONGENTEATOE.

APPLICATION 1-11.21) mm: 1a, 1909.

964,425. Patented July 12, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. P. ISBELL.

' ORE cononmm'ron.

APPLIOATION FILED 311111118, 1909.

Patented July 12, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' J. r. ISBELL.

- ORE GONGENTRATOR.

APP L IOATION FILED JUNE 18, 1909.

Patented July 12,1910.

4 SHEETS-SKIES! 4.

' ported by drums JOHN F. ISBELL, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

ORE-CONCENTRATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 12, 1910.

Application filed June 18, 1909. Serial No. 503,002.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. ISBELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore-Concentrators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in machines designed for the concentration of mineral-bearing ores, and commonly called belt concentrators; such machines usually employ an enclless rubber belt, with flanged sides, supor rollers, so as to form an inclined surface say four or six feet wide and twelve feet or' more long. The belt travels up an incline and then down and around a lower drum or roller, which dips into a water tank in which the mineral is collected. These belts also usually receive a shaking motion for the purpose of settling the ore particles, the shake being commonly at right-angles to the inclination and travel of the belt. The ore is fed upon the belt at the head-end thereof in a uniform stream across its entire width and flows down the incline, subjected to a steady shaking motion, which deposits the ore on the belt. At the head-end of the belt are arranged water-jets which are designed to Wash back the lighter sand, letting only the heavier mineral pass and become deposited in the water tan below.

This general type of machine is old and well known, and the present invention relates to certain improvements therein, said invention consisting of the parts and the constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts which I will hereinafter describe and claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which similar characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views: Figurel is a side elevation of an ore concentrator embodying the salient features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 4: is a cross-sectional view on the line l4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the speed drive mechanism. Figs. 6 and Tillustrate details of construction. Fig. 8 is an end view of the casing which houses the worm gear, showing the lug, w.

In carrying out my invention I construct a main frame of two channel-irons A, which extend the entire width of the machine, these irons being appropriately secured to a bed or foundation, as shown in Fig. l, and said irons being held together by four cast-iron saddles B, the upper central portions of which are bored to form bearings for a horizontal transverse shaft, C, said shaft forming the axis about which the machine is tilted vertically to vary its inclination, as I will hereinafter describe.

Suitable castings D and E at the side of the frame are keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft, O, these castings having secured to them the two longitudinally extending spring carriers, C, which are designed to support the shaking frame, 7, each of said spring carriersC,l1aving its front end rigidly secured to a front carrier-bracket D, which in turn is fastened to the shakingframe. By being rigidly connected to the shakingframe of the machine by means of the brackets D, the carriers C prevent the shaking frame from sliding forward or back thereby holding it square.

At the rear ends, the two carrier-springs C are fastened rigidly to a suitable bracket F which forms abearing for a second superposed flanged bracket E, each of said brackets, E, carrying an adjusting screw V, for leveling the shaking-frame. The brackets E and F are shown in detail in Fig. 7 and they form bearings for the carrier springs 0. Each bracket F carries in a suitable pocket, a bearing block S which is held in position by the dowel pins T. The bracket F also has a pocket or recess for a small block U adapted to keep the block S from rocking, said block U being retained in place by an adjusting screw. By means of the aforesaid adjusting screws V journaled in the brackets E the table top is leveled. There is also rigidly secured to the main side castings D and E, two side adjustinglevers B, B one of these levers bein at each side of the machine and both extending horizontally in a forward direct-ion, the front portions of these levers resting upon suitable eccentrics J secured to a hollow shaft K, the opposite ends of which are supported by suitable vertical standards or posts, G, as shown in Fig. 1, said eccentrics operating under the lovers to elevate or lower the same to thereby cause the frame to rock or tilt about the horizontal shaft C. At one side of the machine the shaft K is extended and provided with a hand wheel H, which when turned, operates the eccentrics J to raise or lower the forward ends of the levers and thereby change the inclination of the machine, which inclination may be maintained by means of a tie-rod which passes through the hollow shaft K and the posts G, and by a clamp bolt Q through the posts and eccentrics, or by other appropriate means.

Secured to the upper part of the main side casting D, are two bearings, 12, in which the main driving-shaft M, is suitably mounted, said shaft being arranged parallel with the side of the machine and having secured to it an adjustable eccentric, J, Fig. 6, adapted to operate against a brass block working in a vertical guide, K, held in position by a yoke, L, which is secured to the shaking frame 7, as shown in Fig. 2. The block, K, is held firmly against the concentric, J, by means of a coiled spring, N, at the opposite side of the machine, the spring itself being held 111 position by suitable caps, P and Q, at the opposite ends thereof and by the adjusting screw, R, and the main side casting, E, on that side of the machine. The eccentric, J, as shown in Fig. 6 has an opening for the eccentric hub 23, the wall of said opening being provided with semi-circular or other recesses adapted to register with the holes, 2 1, in the hub-portion and to receive adjusting pins to secure the parts after adjustment.

T o the main driving-shaft is secured the driving pulley, Gr, said shaft being also provided with appropriate fly-wheels, F, F, there being two of these wheels used, one upon each side of the transverse center of the machine and both wheels being suitably secured to the aforesaid drivingshaft. There is also secured to this driving shaft a cone-pulley, 10, and by suitable connections hereinafter described, a belt, 26, is adapted to be shifted on the conepulley to increase or decrease the travel of the concentrator belt, S,which latter may be of any of the usual types found in machines of this character; and it is designed to pass around suitable drums or rollers 1, 2, 3, .4 and 5, the drums or rollers 1 and 3 forming the ends of the table or shaking frame 7. The drums or rollers 1, 2 and 3 are of the same diameter and the drums or rollers & and 5 are preferably of slightly smaller diameter and are made somewhat shorter than the drums or rollers 1, 2 and 3.

The belt, 8, being passed around the drum or roller, 1, passes under the drum or roller, 2, and is adapted to deposit its concentrates in a box, (not shown) in a manner common to this type of machines; after passing the drum or roller, 2, the belt, 8, extends upwardly and over a drum or roller, 5, and thus rearwardly to and over the drum or roller, t,'to the roller, 3, at the rear end of the machine. Each of these drums or rollers is supported by a suitable hanger which is fastened to the shaking frame.

In order that the belt may be tightened when necessary, the drum or roller, 5, is adjustably mounted by means of a handscrew, 28, operating through the lower part of the hanger, 5, for this drum or roller and bearing against the end of the shaft of the drum or roller, as shown in Fig. 1, said hanger being slotted to accommodate the shaft and to permit of the adjustment of the drum or roller to increase or decrease the tension put upon the belt. It will also be observed that the boxes, in which the front drum or roller 1 and the rear drum or roller, 3, are mounted are provided with adjusting screws, by the operation of which the belt, 8, may be made tight or loose as desired to thereby control its action, said belt having the underside of its upper run suitably supported on the small guide rollers, 6, which are spaced apart from the front to the rear end of the table thereby forming a roller guide and an evenly inclined surface over which the belt travels.

The shaking-table or frame, 7, is preferably composed of channel irons bolted toget-her and with the rollers or drums 1 and 3 arranged at the extremities of said irons, as shown. This frame is further braced by suitable bars or Spreaders, 9, extending from one side of the frame, 7, to the other and serving to hold the sides suitably and rigidly spread apart; also by the brace rods, 11, which extend in diagonal direction from one side of said frame to the other. At the head or front end of the machine is located the usual distributer L which is suitably fastened to the aforesaid shaking frame.

The belt from the cone-pulley 10, extends to a small pulley, S, which is of the flanged type and is carried on the inner end of a horizontal shaft, T, said shaft being provided with a worm, P. By means of a hand-wheel and the operating screw, U, and a guided connection, or shipper-rod, P connected to the hub of the pulley, S, said pulley may be moved to different points on the shaft to thereby shift the belt, 26, on the cone pulley, 10, and regulate the uphill travel of the concentrator belt.

WV, is a cast-iron or other casing which incloses the worm, P, and the worm gear, N; the bearings for the shaft, T, are fastened or otherwise made a part of this casing, WV, and the casing is turnable on a bearing formed as a part of a bracket X, which latter is bolted or otherwise securely fixed to the outside of the channel iron, B, and thus becomes a fulcrum for the pulley, S, and the shaft, T. The object gained by this arrangement is that the weight of the pulley, S, and the shaft, T, is sustained on the small belt, 26, which runs from said pulley to the cone-pulley, 10, and thereby prevents slipping or wear of the belt and at the same time making the action of the belt more positive.

A small hand wheel, V, having a screw which operates against a lug w, (Fig. 8), on the casing, W, is designed to relieve the small belt, 26, from the weight of the pulley, S, and shaft, T, and take all the strain off the belt and thus stop the up-hill travel of the belt instantly when so desired.

As before described, the shaft, T, is provided with a worm, P, which is in mesh with a worm-gear, M, located within the housing, W, said worm-gear being secured to a crank-arm, Y, which is journaled in a bearing in the bracket, X, said bracket being bolted to the outside of the channel iron, B, as clearly shown in said Fig. 5. This crank, Y, is, in fact, the end of the short shaft of the worm gear, N, and the outer end of the crank is connected with one end of a flat straight spring, A, whose opposite end is suitably connected with a crank, Z, on the end of the shaft of the head roller, 1, as

shown in Fig. 5.

The principal features of my invention are the shaking frame, 7 supported 011 the two longitudinal carrier springs, O, which are centrally secured to the main side castings, D and E, these castings in turn being secured to the rockable shaft, 0, which sup ports the operating parts of the machine, but which in turn is supported by the channel irons, A, and the foundation upon which said irons rest; also the side levers B, B secured to the main side castings,D and E, the ront ends of which rest upon an adjusting shaft, K, which in turn is held in position by the posts, G. Another feature, is the driving mechanism which imparts the shaking motion to the frame, 7 this mechanism eing also a part of the side casting, D. Also, in my invention, the front ends of the carrier springs, C, are rigidly secured to the frame, 7 whereby the frame is held square, the rear ends of the springs, being secured to the frame by means of a suitable bearing.

The advantages of this invention are substantially as follows: A perfectly smooth running machine is obtained as the driving mechanism is held in place by a coiled spring on the main side casting E. The shaking frame, 7, moves in a horizontal plane which prevents the heavy sand corners from forming along the sides of the belt as is the case where the machine is supported on toggles or rocker supports and does not have the sloppy corners as in thosecases where the shaking frame is suspended. My machine can be freely adjusted longitudinally by means of the side levers, B, B and all parts of the driving mechanism are maintained in line with the shaking frame.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a concentrator, the combination with a reciprocatory concentrator, of a shaking frame, two longitudinal carrier springs upon which the frame is supported, front and rear carrier brackets fixed to the sides of the frame and to which the ends of said springs are secured, means whereby the rear brackets are adjustable to level the surface of the concentrator, supporting members secured to the central portions of the springs and proj ecting downwardly therefrom, a transverse rock shaft upon which the lower ends of the supporting members are mounted, whereby the lengthwise inclination of the shaking frame and the carrier springs may be varied, and means for imparting a side shaking mo tion to the frame.

2. In a concentrator, the combination of an endless traveling bclt,a shaking fra1ne,two longitudinal carrier springs upon which the frame is supported, front and rear carrier brackets fixed to the sides of the frame and to which the ends of said carrier springs are secured, supporting members rigidly secured to the central portions of the carrier springs and projecting downwardly therefrom and supported on said shaft, and rockable therewith, and means supported by one of the said members and engaging the central portion of the frame for imparting a shaking motion to said frame in a plane parallel with the axis of said shaft and at right angles to the direction of travel of the belt.

In a concentrator, the combination with an endwise tiltable frame and an endless traveling belt carried thereby, of spring-carrier members at the longitudinal sides of the frame having their opposite portions secured to said frame, fixed supports to which the spring-carriers are secured in termediate of their ends, brackets on the frame to which the ends of the spring are secured, the brackets at the rear ends of the spring being adjustable to level the frame, and means engaging the frame and imparting a side movement thereto.

4. A concentrator having a frame tiltable about a centrally located axis, and provided with an endless concentrating belt, springcarriers for the frame having front and rear portions secured thereto, leveling means between the rear ends of the springcarriers and the frame, said carriers having their intermediate portions connected to a fixed point, and means engaging the frame for imparting a vibratory movement thereto.

5. A concentrator having a frame, a shaft about which its frame is longitudinally tiltable, an endless concentrating belt carried by the frame, spring-carriers for the frame each of said carriers including lengthwise extending springs and front and rear brackets by which they are secured to the frame, said rear brackets each comprising a part fixed to a spring and a superposed part fixed to the frame, and an adjusting screw between the parts for leveling the frame, brackets fixed to the central portions of the springs and mounted on said shaft; and means for imparting a side shake to the frame.

6. A concentrator comprising an endless belt, a supporting frame therefor, means for tilting the frame in the direction of its length, spring-carriers at the longitudinal sides of the frame, brackets at the front and rear ends of said sides to which the corre spending ends of the spring-carriers are secured, means associated with the brackets at one end of the frame for leveling the frame and belt, other brackets fixed to the central portions of the spring carriers, and means forming a horizontal transverse axis about which the last-named brackets are turnable.

7 A concentrator having an endless traveling belt and a supporting frame therefor, said frame having brackets secured to the sides of its central portion and proj ecting downwardly, a cross-shaft upon which the lower ends of the brackets are secured, said shaft forming an axis about which the brackets and frame are rockable to vary the inclination of the frame and its belt, longitudinal spring-carriers secured at their central portions to the brackets, means for supporting the opposite ends of said frame, said means including two-part brackets at each side of the rear end of the frame one of the parts of said brackets being secured to the frame and the other part being secured to the spring-carrier, means for moving one of said parts relative to the other part of the same bracket to level the frame, means operated from a distant point of the machine for rocking said shaft, a power shaft parallel with the sides of the frame and independent of and arranged at right angles to the first shaft, and means operated by said second shaft for imparting a side shake to said frame.

8. A concentrator having an endless travcling belt and a supporting frame therefor, longitudinal spring-carriers supporting said frame and having brackets secured to the sides of their central portions and projecting downwardly, a driving shaft mounted in the upper end of one of the brackets and lying exterior to the outer side of the frame and parallel therewith, means operated by said shaft for imparting a side shake to the frame, a cross-shaft upon which the lower ends of the brackets are carried, said cross shaft forming an axis about which the brackets and frame are rockable, to vary the inclination of the frame and its belt, substantially horizontal levers fixed to the brackets and extending toward the end of the machine, and eccentrics engaging the outer or free ends of the levers for raising and lowering them and thereby rocking the frame to vary its inclination.

9. A concentrator having an endless traveling belt and a supporting frame therefor, longitudinal spring-carriers supporting said frame and having brackets secured to the sides of their central portions and projecting downwardly, a driving shaft mounted in the upper end of one of the brackets and lying exterior to the outer side of the frame and parallel therewith, means operated by said shaft for imparting a side shake to the frame, a cross-shaft upon which the lower ends of the brackets are carried, said cross shaft forming an axis about which the brackets and frame are rockable, to vary the inclination of the frame and its belt, substantially horizontal levers fixed to the brackets and extending toward the end of the machine, eccentrics engaging the outer or free ends of the levers for raising or lowering the same to rock the frame about said shaft, and means including a cross-shaft and manually operated member for adjusting the eccentrics.

10. A concentrator comprising an endless traveling belt and a supporting frame therefor, spring carriers at the sides of said frame, brackets at the ends of the carriers and fixed to the frame, and means for imparting a side-shake to the frame, said means including an eccentric at one side of the frame, and a spring at the opposite side of the frame substantially in line with the eccentrics and acting in opposition to the latter.

11. A concentrator comprising an endless traveling belt and a supporting frame therefor, flat springs parallel with the frame at opposite sides thereof, brackets for securing the ends of the springs to the frame, stationary abutments for the central portions of the spring, a main drive-shaft arranged parallel with the central portion of the side of the frame, an eccentric on said shaft, a block on the frame against which the eccentric operates, and a spring at the opposite side of the central part of the frame acting in opposition to the eccentric.

12. A concentrator comprising an endless traveling belt, a supporting frame therefor, flat springs arranged parallel with the sides of the frames and supporting the latter, stationary brackets engaging the central portions of said springs, brackets securing the ends of the springs to the frame, a transverse rock shaft upon which the firstnamed brackets are mounted, means for rocking the frame about said shaft, a main drive shaft at the central side portion of the frame, an eccentric on said drive-shaft for imparting a side movement to the frame,

and a spring on the frame.

13. A concentrator comprising a tiltable frame having an endless traveling bel't, longitudinally extending spring plates at the sides of the frame having their ends fixed to the frame, means for imparting a side shake to the frame, means for tilting the frame about a centrally located horizontal axis, and means for driving the belt, said last-named means including a drive-shaft, a driven shaft, pulleys on said shafts, a belt extending between the pulleys, means for shifting one of the pulleys on its shaft to thereby change the position of the belt on the other pulley, a worm and worm gear connection, a hea -drum for the endless traveling belt, oppositely placed crank arms on the axes of the head-drum and the worm gear, and a flat spring driving connection between the two cranks.

14. A concentrator comprising a tiltable frame having an endless traveling belt, lon gitudinally extending spring-plates at the ends fixed sides of means for imparting a s1de opposite side of the the pulleys on its shaft to thereby change the position of the belt on the other pulley,

gear, a flat spring driving connection between the two cranks, a casing for the wormgear and a pivoted bracket for the casing forming an axis about which the driven shaft may be tilted in a vertical direction, and operating means for the bracket.

15. In a concentrator, the combination of a shaking frame having flat-springs extending along its sides, superposed brackets for securing the ends of the springs to the frame, one of said brackets having a pocket, a block fitting said pocket and provided with dowel pins, means for retaining the block in the pocket, and screws engaging the brackets for adjusting the frame vertically.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. ISBELL.

shake to the frame, means for tilting the frame about a centrally located horizontal Witnesses:

axis, and means for driving the belt, said Y. M. OALLOW, last-named means including a drive-shaft, C. E. TAYLOR. 

